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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Daily Scripture

Thursday June 15, 2006

+ Tenth Week in Ordinary Time II

When all is said and done, we are still vessels of clay.

Readings: 1 Kings 19:19a, 11-16 Psalm 27:8-9, 13-14 Matthew 5:27-32

“A voice said to him, ‘Elijah, why are you here [in the cave]?’ He replied, ‘I have been zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. But the children of Israel have forsaken our covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.’” [1 Kings 19:13-14]

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and through it away...’”

Anyone want to give the homily today? I’ll be happy to step aside. These are the kind of texts we would rather keep in the file marked, ‘Save for a future date.” Indeed.

Despite what I stated yesterday, the two readings today are related, at least remotely.

Elijah was a biblical prototype of Jesus. Jesus was essentially a prophet, itinerant preacher and a religious reformer. His priesthood was conferred upon him only at this death.

That having been stated, we need to read these texts, especially the gospel, with a great deal of caution. That’s why I included the saying about tearing out one’s eye should it lead one to sin. These texts need to be contextualized. Notice that Jesus teaching against divorce was addressed to the husband, not to the wife. In essence, his wife was not to be used as his property. Paul teaches that the husband must love and respect his wife as if she was his own body—that is, his very self.

We said yesterday that life is layered. So is our understanding of the truth of what is being proclaimed in the Scriptures and ought not make applications to our present world with out careful examination of all the texts and contexts.

Divorce is not a good thing, to be sure. Indeed, it is destructive but there are circumstances when after much prayer, counsel, and discernment, it may be the only viable alternative for the health, safety and wellbeing of one or both partners to say nothing of the children.

Indeed, we are vessels of clay.